ICT stakeholders want govt to address brain drain in the country

Some stakeholders  on Thursday called on the government to address the issue of outward migration of brains (brain drain)  from the country.

The stakeholders made the call at the second edition of NITRA ICT Growth Conference  2.0 in Lagos with the theme, “Creating A Digital Ecosystem In Nigeria: The Hurdles, The Gains”.

The Chairman of the occasion, Mr Chris Uwaje, Founder, Mobile Software Solutions, said that brain drain had become a very serious issue that should be put on the front burner by the government.

Uwaje said that there was need to develop a knowledge-based park that would encourage local content grooming and development.

He said that such park would encourage our local technology development.

‘’We need a park where we can talk tech, where we can gain knowledge and so on.

‘’Nigeria can be built, we do not have to run away’’ he said.

Gbenga Adebayo, President, Association  of Licenced Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON), said that government should address the issue of brain drain by making available necessary  amenities.

He said that the sad reality of brain drain was that those leaving are not needed where they are  migrating to.

Adebayo, an Engineer,  said that governments need to urgently  address the brain drain because there are no available jobs.

Ike Nnamani, President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), said that the Telecomunications Industry had lost  close to 2000 staff due to outward migration.

Nnamani said that outward migration of professionals was part of the challenge faced by the industry and the country as a whole.

He urged that something should be done as the industry was a major contributor to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

According to him, the industry has also contributed by creating employment for the teeming youths in the country.

Nnamani noted that the challenge of brain drain was affecting every sector of the nation’s economy.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NITRA ICT Growth Conference was organised by Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA). (NAN)